Wire sculptures draw attention to UK’s homeless youth through the new #NOWYOUSEEME campaign.

March 30, 2019

In the UK last year, 103,000 16-25 year-olds asked their local authority for help because they were homeless or at risk. 52% received no documented support.

Little is known about what happens to this hidden group. It is this forgotten group that is often forced to ‘sofa-surf’—sleeping on the floors and sofas of friends or acquaintances. Once they exhaust goodwill they often resort to more desperate measures—sleeping on night buses, injuring themselves for a hospital bed, or trying to find a ‘date’ for the night, or worse. —End Youth Homelessness

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A number of years ago Jacob and I purchased—from the collection of director, Jonathan Demme—a wire sculpture by Columbus “Dude” McGriff. I was surprised by how a wire sculpture—a school, that in many cases, is considered to be outsider, or self-taught art—seemed to morph during the day by changes in light, its shadows constantly redefining the piece in super slow motion.

Over time, I’ve learned that wire sculpture can be a relatable, powerful art form. So, I was immediately intrigued by the End Youth Homelessness [EYH] campaign: #NOWYOUSEEME.

EYH has partnered with artist and sculptor David Oliveira to install “invisible” sculptures of young people in prominent train stations and shopping centers around the UK. The campaign aims to encourage the public to make the invisible, visible, by sharing #NOWYOUSEEME on social media to raise awareness of and support for their local youth homelessness charity. You’ll meet sculptor David Oliveira in this video.

EYH believes that:

Every young person has the right to a home

Every young person needs the independence that an education and job provides

Every young person needs a stable support network and services that can prevent them from becoming homeless